Thunes and Ecobank Launch Instant Payments Across Africa

Thunes and Ecobank Group have announced a groundbreaking collaboration that will facilitate instant cross-border payments throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative aims to enhance financial connectivity for millions of individuals and businesses, marking a significant advancement in the region’s financial infrastructure.

The partnership follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Ecobank and TransferTo, Thunes’ holding company, in 2024. This earlier agreement set the stage for a transformative approach to financial access and cross-border payment solutions across the continent.

Innovative Financial Solutions for Africa

The collaboration will significantly integrate banking and fintech infrastructures, making it easier for users to send, receive, and manage money instantly across borders. Key benefits include faster settlement times, simplified access to liquidity, and an expanded reach that unlocks new growth opportunities in the digital economy.

As part of this initiative, the phased deployment will cover Ecobank’s extensive operations across 32 countries, adhering to local regulations in each market. The rollout aims to connect Ecobank customers to Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which spans over 130 countries and connects to approximately 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide.

By leveraging Ecobank’s deep local presence and Thunes’ robust global network, this alliance empowers entrepreneurs to engage in cross-border trade, enables families to provide support to loved ones instantly, and helps communities participate in a more vibrant digital economy.

“This collaboration marks a major development in how we power payments across Africa,” said Peter De Caluwe, Co-Founder and CEO of Thunes. “Thunes’ solutions and Ecobank’s reach are a perfect match: together we’re delivering faster, more reliable access to liquidity and creating new pathways for growth across Sub-Saharan Africa. The result is a live, large-scale solution that’s transforming how money moves across the continent.”

Launching in Togo

The first market to benefit from this partnership is Togo, where Ecobank customers can now access instant payments facilitated by global remittance players. This operational launch underscores the partnership’s readiness to expand systematically across the continent.

“Our collaboration with Thunes perfectly aligns with Ecobank’s mission to provide borderless banking and drive financial inclusion across Africa,” stated Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group. “By combining our robust banking infrastructure with Thunes’ fintech innovation and trusted Direct Global Network, we’re expanding real-time financial access for millions and driving the growth of Africa’s digital economy.”

As the partnership progresses, it promises to reshape the landscape of financial services in Africa, enabling greater access to financial tools for individuals and businesses alike, ultimately contributing to the continent’s economic growth.